African masks meaning and uses

The use of masks is a major tradition in West and Central Africa. They are often used for ceremonial and religious purposes. Masks can be used in funerals, harvest celebrations and in other rituals. In the senufo culture, for instance, secret associations are part of their tradition and masks are used in the ceremonies and also in the burial rites.

Baoule Mask	Dan Mask	Baoule Mask

You can purchase a lot of different masks if you follow the links below:

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One of the most abundant type of mask in the African culture is the animal representation such as the crocodiles mask, hawks and Buffalo masks.

You also have to know that there is different type of masks such as the face masks, the body masks, the passport masks.

Carving a mask is a very sophisticated and complicated art. In many part of Africa, the apprentice will have to work between 3 to 7 years with the master carver in order to fully learn how to create a mask. This art is actually very often transferred from father through son through several generations.

Masks can be made of any combination of the following materials: wood, grass, leather, fabric, cloth, metal, string...